Introduction
When the air turns crisp and the leaves turn gold, there’s nothing quite like the cozy sweetness of caramel cake. These 24 gooey caramel cake recipes celebrate autumn’s best flavors—apple, pumpkin, spice, and everything deliciously sticky. Each one is soft, buttery, and dripping with caramel bliss. Get ready to bake your way through fall’s sweetest desserts.
1. Classic Gooey Caramel Cake
A buttery, simple cake drenched in warm caramel sauce.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time.
- Add vanilla, buttermilk, and dry ingredients alternately.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Pour warm caramel over cooled cake.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with extra caramel and sprinkle sea salt.
2. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake
Chocolate and caramel meet in a rich, fudge-like masterpiece.
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups flour
- 1½ cups sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup hot coffee
- ¾ cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Add eggs, buttermilk, and oil.
- Stir in coffee until smooth.
- Bake 30 minutes.
- Layer with caramel sauce and sprinkle salt.
How to Serve It
Top with more caramel drizzle and shaved chocolate.
3. Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
Caramel and apple flavors baked right into the top.
Ingredients
- 3 apples, sliced
- ½ cup caramel
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Pour caramel into bottom of pan.
- Layer apple slices.
- Mix batter and pour over apples.
- Bake 40 minutes.
- Flip to reveal caramel top.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
4. Sticky Toffee Caramel Cake
A cozy, old-fashioned caramel dessert full of toffee flavor.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chopped dates
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1½ cups flour
Instructions
- Soak dates in water with baking soda.
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and flour.
- Mix in date mixture.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Pour warm caramel sauce over cake.
How to Serve It
Add whipped cream and more sauce.
5. Caramel Pecan Bundt Cake
A nutty caramel delight perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter
- 1½ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup caramel glaze
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs, then alternate milk and flour.
- Fold in pecans.
- Bake 45 minutes.
- Pour glaze while warm.
How to Serve It
Top with toasted pecans and extra caramel.
6. Caramel Banana Cake
Moist banana crumb meets golden caramel topping.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Mash bananas.
- Beat butter, sugar, eggs.
- Add flour and bananas.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Top with caramel.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with banana slices and cream.
7. Caramel Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin spice meets rich caramel sweetness.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Beat butter, sugar, eggs, and pumpkin.
- Add dry ingredients.
- Bake 40 minutes.
- Pour caramel glaze while warm.
How to Serve It
Add whipped cream and cinnamon dust.
8. Caramel Cream Cheese Cake
Tangy cream cheese frosting adds perfect contrast.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup butter
- 1¼ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup caramel
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup butter
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix cake batter and bake 30–35 minutes.
- Beat frosting ingredients.
- Frost cooled cake and drizzle caramel.
How to Serve It
Decorate with caramel swirls on top.
9. Caramel Mocha Cake
Caramel blends with coffee for rich mocha magic.
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups flour
- ¾ cup cocoa
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp coffee granules
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Dissolve coffee in milk.
- Beat butter and sugar; add eggs.
- Add dry ingredients and milk.
- Bake 30 minutes.
- Drizzle caramel once cooled.
How to Serve It
Top with chocolate shavings.
10. Caramel Pear Spice Cake
Sweet pears and caramel make a soft, fragrant cake.
Ingredients
- 2 pears
- ½ cup caramel
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
- Pour caramel into pan.
- Add pears, then batter.
- Bake 40 minutes.
- Flip to reveal caramel pear top.
How to Serve It
Serve with honey or whipped cream.
11. Brown Butter Caramel Sheet Cake
Browned butter adds rich flavor to a simple favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 cup browned butter
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Brown butter, cool slightly.
- Mix all ingredients.
- Bake 25 minutes at 350°F.
- Spread caramel glaze over top.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle toasted nuts for crunch.
12. Caramel Coconut Cake
A soft, sweet, tropical caramel dessert.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter
- 1¼ cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup coconut milk
- ½ cup caramel
- ½ cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Cream butter, sugar, and eggs.
- Add coconut milk and caramel.
- Stir in flour and coconut.
- Bake 30 minutes.
How to Serve It
Top with caramel and toasted coconut.
13. Caramel Walnut Coffee Cake
Crunchy, sweet, and perfect with coffee.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Mix batter and fold in walnuts.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Pour caramel glaze while warm.
How to Serve It
Serve with a hot latte.
14. Caramel Maple Poke Cake
Sweet and sticky in every layer.
Ingredients
- 1 white cake mix (or homemade sponge)
- ½ cup caramel
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Bake cake and poke holes.
- Pour mixture of caramel, milk, and syrup.
- Chill 2 hours before serving.
How to Serve It
Top with whipped cream and maple drizzle.
15. Caramel Praline Cake
Crunchy, buttery, and deeply rich.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup caramel
- ½ cup chopped pralines
Instructions
- Combine ingredients.
- Bake 30 minutes.
- Spread caramel and add pralines.
How to Serve It
Break extra praline over the top.
16. Caramel Toffee Crunch Cake
A buttery caramel base with a candy crunch.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup caramel
- ½ cup toffee bits
Instructions
- Mix batter, fold in toffee.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Drizzle more caramel.
How to Serve It
Add whipped topping and extra toffee.
17. Caramel Chai Spice Cake
The perfect balance of sweet and spiced warmth.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp chai spice mix
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Mix ingredients and bake 30 minutes.
- Pour caramel glaze over top.
How to Serve It
Serve with a chai latte.
18. Caramel Bread Pudding Cake
A cozy dessert full of texture and sweetness.
Ingredients
- 5 cups cubed bread
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Mix milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla.
- Pour over bread cubes.
- Bake 40 minutes.
- Drizzle caramel over top.
How to Serve It
Add whipped cream or ice cream.
19. Caramel Sweet Potato Cake
Sweet potato adds moisture and color.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups mashed sweet potato
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Mix ingredients.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Drizzle caramel glaze.
How to Serve It
Top with pecans.
20. Caramel Hazelnut Cake
Nutty and smooth for a gourmet twist.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup caramel
- ½ cup chopped hazelnuts
Instructions
- Mix and fold in nuts.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Pour caramel glaze.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle crushed hazelnuts over top.
21. Caramel Honey Cake
Light and floral sweetness with deep caramel notes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Beat butter, sugar, honey, eggs.
- Add flour and caramel.
- Bake 30 minutes.
How to Serve It
Brush with honey before serving.
22. Caramel Walnut Cake
Soft cake meets nutty crunch.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup caramel
- ½ cup walnuts
Instructions
- Mix batter and fold in nuts.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Add caramel glaze.
How to Serve It
Top with whole walnuts.
23. Caramel Cinnamon Roll Cake
Cinnamon roll meets caramel cake in one pan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Layer batter with cinnamon sugar.
- Swirl gently.
- Bake 35 minutes.
- Glaze with caramel icing.
How to Serve It
Serve warm for best texture.
24. Caramel Frosted Pound Cake
Dense, buttery, and dripping with smooth caramel icing.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1½ cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup caramel
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Add eggs and vanilla.
- Mix in flour and caramel.
- Bake 50 minutes at 350°F.
- Spread caramel frosting on top.
How to Serve It
Serve with hot tea or coffee.
Conclusion
Each of these caramel cakes captures the essence of autumn—soft, sweet, and irresistibly gooey. From fruity layers to spiced bundts, there’s a recipe here for every craving. Save your favorites, share them with friends, and fill your kitchen with the scent of warm caramel all season long.
